Free-reeling fishing reel



Feb. 14, 1933. J, P. SHAW FREE REEL'ING FISHING REEL Filed April 27, 1952 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT JOHN PIERSON SHAW, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA FREE-REELING FISHING REEL Application filed April 27,

This invention is an improvement in fishing reels and the principal object of the invention is to provide a free-reeling fishing reel enabling the operator to perform all operations necessary to land a fish after being caught on the hook without the necessity of the operators hand being removed from the crank which operates the spool, the reel being wound to wind in the line by a clockwise rotation of the crank, and the spool being secured by permitting the crank to assume a stationary position, and free rotation of the spool to feed out play in the line being permitted by initial counter-clockwise rotation of the crank, a brake on the spool being applied upon further counter-clockwise rotation of the crank. Hence after a fish is hooked tl e line may be wound in by clockwise rotation of the crank in the usual manner, but if the fish should give a certain erk on the line a slight counter-clockwise rotation of the crank will allow the fish to take out play in the line, and should it be desired to retard this play in the line further counterclockwise rotation of the crank will automatically apply a brake against free rotation of the spool whereby the motion of the fish may be checked. Hence without removing the hand of the operator from the crank the line may be drawn in, or played out, or frictionally checked at any time by the operator.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one pra tical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

a Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the fishing reel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reel with the end plate carrying the crank rcmoved,taken in the plane of the line 2-2, Fig. 5, showing in dotted lines the position of the spool brake, and of the pivoted plate carrying the re- 1932. Serial No. 607,861.

winding gear which meshes with the pinion on the spool shaft.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the end plate taken in the plane of the line 33, Fig. 5, showing the gear on the crank shaft meshing with the pinion on the spool shaft, and showing the pivoted plate in position for normally bringing the gears into mesh, and also showing the spool brake carried by the pivoted plate. v

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the brake applied, and the pivoted plate swung to unmesh the driving gear with the pinion on the spool shaft.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55, Fig. 4.

As shown, the reel preferably comprises a frame consisting of an end plate 1, and an end ring 2, connected together in spaced relation by bars 3 in the usual manner. Journaled within the frame is a spool i mounted on a shaft la having one end journaled in a suitable bearing in the end plate 1. The opposite end of the spool carries a plate 4?) having an annular flange 40 adapted to rotatably fit within the ring 2.

Preferably the end plate lb is dished inwa-rdly (Fig. 5) and the end of the shaft 4a projects into the dished portion of the end plate 4 0 and into a bore in the center of plate 8 (hereinafter described) and a pinion 5 (Fig. 2) is mounted upon the end of the shaft 4a whereby when the pinion 5 is rotated as hereinafter explained the reel 4 will, be rotated.

In the ring 2 is a recess 2a preferably Wider adjacent the flange 40 than at the outer periphery of the ring 2 and in the recess 2a is a friction block 6 corresponding in shape with the recess adapted to bear against the outer periphery of the flange 40 whereby when the block 6 is pushed inwardly rotation of the spool will be retarded. Preferably a ring 7 is placed over the ring 2 to maintain the block 6 in the tapered recess 2a.

Upon the outer ring 7 is mounted a plate 8 adapted to be secured to the bars 3 through the rings 7 and 2 by screws 8a which screws preferably are of suflicient length to enter tapped bores in the adjacent ends of the bars 3 of the frame.

On the inner face of the plate 8 is a metallic plate 9 pivoted as at 9a, said plate having a centrally disposed recess of sufiicient diameter to receive the pinion 5 on the end of the reel shaft ice Preferably opening 9?) is elongated sufilciently to permit the plate 9 to pivot without touching the pinion 5. Plate 9 is provided with a recess 90, and a pin or screw 9d is entered into the inner face of plate 8 through the recess 90 to limit the pivoting movement of plate 9; Plate 9 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of the bow spring 10 having one end 10a entered into the plate 8, toe spring 10 being bowed around a pin 10b and the outer end of the spring engaging a lip 96 formed on plate 9 whereby the spring tends to pull the plate into the position shown in Fig. 3 at which time the screw 9d engages the end of the slot 90 furtherestremoved from the lip 90.

Riveted to the plate 9, adjacent the central opening 96' is a stud shaft 12, extending through an enlarged tubular extension 86 projecting from the outer face of the plate 8 whereby the stud shaft 12 may move within the extension when plate 9 is pivoted. On the shaft 12 is a gear 11 abutting against the plate 9, said gear having a tubular extension 11a rotatably mounted on shaft 12, the extension also passing through the part 8?) of plate 8 and beyond the end of the stud staft 12. The outer end of extension 11a is squared as at 11?) to receive the crank 18 by which the gear 11 is rotated. Gear 11 is adapted to normally mesh with pinion 5 on the reel shaft ea when the plate 9 is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby rotation of the crank 13 in a clockwise direction will rotate the reel shaft 40 to wind up the fishing line let on spool 4t.

Extension 11a is externally threaded as at 11c, and on the extension 11a beside the gear 11 is a ratchet wheel 15 adapted to be engaged by a pawl pivoted as at 16a on the plate 8. Ratchet wheel 15 has no threaded engagement with extension 11a, but is mounted so as to have a slip clutch engagement with the extension 11a. The slippage is controlled by a washer nut 15a also threaded on extension 11a which may be adjusted towards or away fromthe ratchet wheel 15 by means of a socket wrench applied through the plate extension 8?), the washer nut being locked in adj usted position by a lock nut 15b. The above slip clutch arrangement will avoid breakage of the fishing line ll if the brake (hereinafter described) is applied too quickly. The pawl 16 normally engages the ratchet wheel 15 at a position adjacent the pinion 5, and a bow spring 16?) engaging the side of the pawl tends to normally hold the pawl in contact with the ratchet wheel. Pawl 16 however may be pivoted out of mesh with the ratchet wheel as in Fig. 3 by shifting a slide 17 on the outer face of plate 8, said slide having a pin 17a (Fig. 5) entering a slot 8m in plate 8 and lying beside the pawl 16, whereby as the slide 12 is shifted the pawl will be correspondingly shifted against the action of the spring 166 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 15.

By this construction when the pawl is in engagement & *ith the ratchet wheel 1 he crank 13 may be actr -.ted to rotate the gear 11 in one direction to wind up the line 14; on the spool at, the pawl overriding the ratchet teeth. 'l'he pawl howei will prevent rotation of the gear 11 i the opposite direction; but as the pawl is pivoted on the a-.. plate 8, and as the gear 11 is carried by the pivoting plate 9, when the operator attempts to rotate the crank 13 in a counter-clockwise direction the plate 9 will be shifted as in Fig. by the pawl 16 and will move the gear 11 out of mesh with pin on 5 of the spool shaft, permitting the spool to rotate freely in either direction in the frame whereby the fish can play out the line l t and no sudden jerks on the line can be had w iich might cause breakage of the line, r 5., or reel.

Continued attempt to rotate the crank 13 in a counter-clocke e direction however will. further pivot the plate 9, while the gears 5 and 11 are cut of mesh, and will bring block of friction material 29 whicl carried by the pivoting ate 9 into ee'agement with l the inner periphery ie of the spool end plate 1?) (as in Fig. thereby exerting braking effect upon the spool while the gears 11 and 5 are unmeshed, the pressure of the brake 20 being in the opposite direction from the pull of the line 14 on the spool 4, thus relieving the strain on the spindles and bearings.

The brake block 20 may be of any desirec material, preferably leather, and its outer periphery is shaped to conform substanti ally with the contour of the flange 40 of the spool and constitutes in effect an internal expanding brake upon the flange ie of the spool.

As soon how-ever as the crank 13 is released the bow spring 10 will return the pivoting plate 9 to the position shown in Fig. 3 in which position the brake block 29 is disengaged from the flange ie and the gear 11 remeshes Wlnl pinion 5 on spool shaft, and the crank 13 can then be used to wind up the spool in a clockwise direction.

lVhen castine the slide 1'? should be shifted to maintain the pawl 16 'scngaged from the ratchet wheel 5, and ne line may be freely played out from the spool without obstruction; and the thumb brake 6 may be used while casting to exert a slight friction on the exterior or the flange 4:0 to prevent tangling of the line by reason of the spool rotating faster than the line it is being played out.

By my novel construction the line may be cast and the auxiliary brake 6 used when casting to exert a slight braking effect on the reel to prevent overrunning and consequent tangling of the line while the crank 13 is rotating freely. WVhen however the slide 17 is shifted to engage the pawl 16 with the ratchet wheel the handle may be rotated onl in a clockwise direction to wind up the line 14 on the spool, the pawl overriding the ratchet wheel.

However after a fish has been snagged and is tugging on the line, an attempt to then rotate the crank 13 in a counter-clockwise direction will initially unmesh the gears 11 and 5 to permit the line to be played out by the fish, and further eifort to rotate the crank 13 counter-clockwise will further shift plate 9 bring the brake block 20 into cont-act with the inner periphery of the flange exerting an etlicient frictional brake against the flange of the spool to check the action of the fish and hence crank 13 may be used to draw in and play out the line 1 1 without necessitating the operator removing his hand from the crank during the necessary operations required to land the fish.

I claim 1, In a reel of the character specified, a. frame, a spool rotatably mounted therein, a pinion for rotating the spool; a movable plate carried by the frame; a gear ournaled on the plate adapted to mesh with the pinion; manual means for rotating the gear; means ;1eldably maintaining the plate positioned to bring the gear and pinion into mesh; a brake for the spool operated by the plate; said brake being inactive when the gear and pinion are in mesh; and means whereby attempted movement of the manual means in one direction will shift the plate and m1t1ally unmesh the gear and pinion and upon further attempted movement will actuate the brake, the yieldable means disengaging the brake and remeshing the gear and pinion when the manual means is released.

2. In areel as set forth in claim 1, said yielding means comprising a flexed bow spring having one end fixed to the frame and the other end engaging the plate.

3. In areel as set forth in claim 1, said plate shifting means comprising a pawl pivoted in the frame and yieldably engaging .he gear, said pawl permitting free rotation of the gear in one direction, the pawl preventing rotation of the gear in the other direction and causing the plate to pivot under attempted rotation of the gear in the other direction.

In reel as set forth in claim 1, said plate shiftin means comprising a ratchet wheel mounted beside the gear; a pawl pivoted in the frame and yieldably engaging the ratchet wheel permitting free rotation of the wheel in one direction, the pawl preventing rotation of the wheel in the other direction and causing the plate to pivot under attempted rotation of the wheel in the other direction.

rotation of the wheel in the other direction;

and a slip clutch connecting the ratchet wheel with the gear.

6. In a reel as set forth in claim 1, a stud shaft mounted on saidplate and extending through the frame, and said gear being mounted on the shaft and having an extension connected with the gear rotating means; av ratchet wheel on the extension beside the gear and engaged with the plate shifting means; and ,a slip-clutch connecting the ratchet wheel to the-extension.

7. In a reel as set forth in claim 1, a stud shaft mounted on said plate and extending through the frame, said gear being mounted on said stud shaft and having an extension connected with the gear rotating means; a ratchet wheel on the extension beside the gear and engaged with the plate shifting means; a lock washer threaded on the extension beside the ratchet wheel, and a lock nut threaded on the extension and engagingthe lock washer, said washer and nut being adjustable to permit slippage of the ratchet wheel on the extension.

8. In a reel of the character specified, a frame, a spool rotatably mounted therein and having a peripheral flange; a pinion within the flange for rotating the spoo1; a plate pivoted on the frame adjacent the pinion; a gear rota-tably ournaled on the plate adapted to mesh with the pinion; means for rotating the gear; means yieldably maintaining the plate in position to bring the gear into mesh with the pinion; a friction brake carried by the plate within the flange and normally disengaged from the flange when the pinion and gear are in mesh; and means whereby attempted rotation of the gear rotating means in one direction will shift the plate and initially unmesh the gear and pinion and whereby further attempted rotation in the same direction will engage the brake with the flange, and yieldable means disengaging the brake and remeshing the gear and pinion when the rotating means is released.

9. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, said yielding means comprising a lip extending from the edge of the plate; and a flexed bow spring having one end fixed to the frame and the other end engaging the lip.

10. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, said plate shifting means comprising a pawl pivoted in the frame and yieldably engaging the gea-r, said pawl preventing rotation of the gear in one direction, the pawl preventing rotation of the gear in the other direction and causing the plate to pivot under attempted rotation of the gear in the other direction.

11. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, said plate shifting means comprising a. ratchet wheel mounted beside the gear; a pawl pivoted in the frame and yieldably engaging the ratchet wheel permitting free rotation of the wheel in one direction, the pawl preventing rotation of the wheel in the other direction and causing the plate to pivot under attempted rotation ofthe wheel in the other direction. V

12. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, said plate shifting means comprising a ratchet wheel mounted beside the gear; a pawl pivoted in the frame and vieldablv engaging the wheel permitting free rotation of the wheel in one direction. the pawlpreventing rotation of the wheel in the other direction and causing the plate to pivot under attempted rotation of the wheel in the other direction; and a slip clutch connecting the ratchet wheel with the gear.

13. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, a stud shaft mounted on said plate and extending through the frame, and said gear being mounted on said stud shaft and having an extension connected with the gear rotating means; a ratchet wheel on the extension beside the gear and engaged with the plate shifting means; and a slip-clutch connecting the ratchet wheel to the extension.

14. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, a stud shaft mounted on said plate and extending through the frame said gear being mounted on said stud shaft and having an extension connected with the gear rotating means; a ratchet wheel on the extension beside the gear and engaged with the plate shifting means; a lock washer threaded on the extension beside the ratchet wheel. and a lock nut threaded on the extension and engaging the lock washer, said washer and nut being adjustable to permit slippage of the ratchet wheel on the extension.

15. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, a hand brake mounted on the frame engaging the outer periphery of the spool flange.

16. In a reel as set forth in claim 8, means for rendering the plate shifting means ineffective.

JOHN PIERSON SHAW. 

